talk to me about how you wash your clothes

[chumbler]

my clothes have begun to smell after being washed, and after some research I'm a bit confused!

this is what I do weekly -
1 large load colours 40deg, 30min quick wash (includes pre soaked stained clothes)
1 small-medium white load 40deg, 30min quick wash (again usually includes pre soaked stained clothes)
towels and bedsheets on 40deg 30min wash (not together)

I use fairy non bio liquid straight in the machine with clothes. no softner (eczema)

I don't do any maintenance washes, not sure what to do?

I dry my clothes indoors on electric dryer all together

they smell not really really bad, but they don't smell fresh. what can I do???

Yes I've never managed to find white wine vinegar as opposed to white vinegar. Always assumed they are the same thing. Never used them in a washing machine though

My girls are teens now so don't tend to wear anything long enough for it to actually get dirty so all clothes go on a quick cycle, we've had our washing machine for about ten years so I dont think it does them any harm. To get rid of smells I'd run an empty wash without any products on the hottest cycle to see if that cleared it. I've never needed to myself but I know other people do that.

No I think you need white vinegar. The sort you would use for pickling. Comes in big glass bottles - large supermarkets stock it. I can't remember the last time I saw it though. Makes mental note to look in Sainsbury's later.

Here you go
www.sainsburys.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=44&productId=39438&storeId=10151&krypto=i8VWryIZbEJ4TcoKm6jLtmeP2lJMVcCePAaKnDJFdREwq%2F9Er5R695ViR%2FRYyENMSlYfLaTZdKsN%0ANTWo38twzmBnHyMECEHn%2BbeRDy167oU%2BERTu3vbqRht6tQGv%2Bt%2F6

StealthPolarBear, the thing that uses the most electricity on the washing machine is the heat element. The motor barely uses anything. The more water used and the faster it is needed to heat up, the more electricity the heat element needs to use. Longer wash and less water means the heat element can work slower for longer so uses less power.

Incidentally, washer energy ratings are awarded based on cottons 60 cycles, so Eco washes are irrelevant really.

I wash all dark & coloured clothes on 40, bedding on 60 and white towels and cloths on 90. I also use powder. As others have said, liquid and quick wash is a lethal combination. Makes your washer stink. Also, quick washes are designed to only wash small loads. Washing full loads on quick wash causes excessive wear on the motor and drum bearings, so your washer won't last as long.

Glad I came across this thread! I've been having a problem with normal stains (grubby knees kind of thing) not coming out of my dc's clothes but I have been putting all clothes on a quick wash (50 mins on my machine). Both dh and ds react to bio washing powder so we have to use non bio and I thought it was that, but I will start using the longer washes and see how it goes.

Really interesting, thank you for posting.

PourquoiTuGachesTaVie, are you using liquid or powder? Powder is much better - if you're using liquid or pods, switch to powder or tablets

My shortest cycle is 2.20 for towels and sheets.

My normal wash is 3 hours.

As noted, you need to clean your machine. Vinegar works beautifully.

I do a quick wash as standard, but on my machine that brings it down to 55 or 60 minutes

But I am ruthless about sorting colours so the loads are rarely full...overloading the machine means stuff won't get sufficiently swished

Also do lots of 60/90 washes for bedding and towels and stinky sweaty boy teen clothes.

If you are only doing three loads do you keep the machine closed in between as that'll build up a stink?

I generally use whatever detergent is on offer, but it is rarely liquid that I buy...usually powder/capsules when I am tempted by the pretty colours.

hmm should I keep the door open all the time then? generally gets used two days a week. I keep the door open for a couple hours afterwards to let it dry - seems to be the only thing I was doing right!! thanks everyone!!!

so my plan is this -

wash smaller loads on "normal" 2hr ish washes at 40 deg.
wash towels on 60 deg (or more?)
wash bedding on 40 or 60 deg (going to check label)
do maintenance wash maybe once a fortnight? or is this not needed if I do hotter washes??
use up my liquid fairy non bio, then use up my non bio powder tabs, then finally buy just powder.
going to continue to skip softener due to baby (eczema)

sound about right?
thanks so much everyone I have learnt an awful lot today!!

short washes are really bad news for exzema, they often use one (or more) less rinse cycles.
agree with every one else: longer cycles, bio powder, occassional hot wash

Maintaince wash not needed every 2weeks.
I do one once every 6-12 months.
See how it goes with the longer and hotter washes, after this hot, empty wash.

If your baby has excess I would recommend using the extra rince cycle. Most machines have one - usually a button you hold in to activate. It's the powder residues and perfume that irritate the skin and your short cycles won't have been doing the job well enough.
I wash ordinary clothes at 40, bedding, underwear, cloths and towels at 60 using perfume - free bio powder. Only ever use quick wash for sportswear or in a crisis.

Excess?? - excema!

great tip, thanks

I feel terrible I might have made her eczema worse. hv keeps asking what detergent I use etc, never thought of the cycle length

looking forward to much nicer clothes